Bike Bowling Green

The City of Bowling Green, along with the Bowling Green Bike Commission, is pleased to offer both recreational and educational bike rides throughout city streets.

Monthly Themed Rides / Slow Rolls

Rides are free, family-friendly, and open to everyone. This program will occur on the last Sunday of the month at 2 pm, at least during the warmer months. Multiple trained leaders will facilitate the ride to ensure that all riders complete the route, including providing assistance for mechanical or personal issues that may arise.

These rides start and end at a pre-advertised location, typically a public park or other area with auto parking. Each themed ride follows a pre-determined route on City of Bowling Green streets, making 2 to 3 stops along the way. Each stop features some type of educational or theme-related information. Rides are free to any Bowling Green residents who are capable of safely riding 3 to 8 miles on city streets. Each rider is required to wear a properly-fitted helmet and ride a correctly-sized bicycle in safe, working mechanical order. These rides are meant to be more recreational in nature and will travel at a speed comfortable for all riders. While designed for fun and exploration, monthly rides will also stress the importance of safe riding practices and responsibilities of riders while navigating city streets.

It is highly recommended that young riders, not able to travel these distances on their own, participate via a tow behind trailer or child bike seat.

Educational Rides

This program is open to all residents interested in learning more in depth information on bike laws, bike safety, and using a bicycle for transportation around Bowling Green. Group size is limited to five participants who are required to pre-register. Each group is led by two trained bike leaders (typically city employees or Bicycle Safety Commission members). In addition to the lead rider, each group is accompanied by a trained sweep who follows behind to keep the group together and to provide assistance with mechanical or personal issues.

Each educational ride follows a pre-determined route on City of Bowling Green streets, making 2 to 3 stops along the way. Each stop features discussions about bike law, responsibilities of cyclists and motorists, safe navigation of streets, and pros and cons of various bike infrastructure options. Rides are free to any Bowling Green resident who is capable of safely riding 5 to 8 miles on city streets. Each rider must wear a properly-fitted helmet and ride a correctly-sized bicycle in safe, working mechanical order. These rides are meant to be educational in nature focusing on safe bicycle riding as local transportation and commuting.

Schedule a Ride

If interested in scheduling this type of ride, please call 419-354-6222 or email Bowling Green Sustainability.

Buddy Rides

This tutorial program has a similar goal to the group education rides, but is tailored to individual needs of a rider and is conducted one-on-one between a trained leader and a Bowling Green resident. An example would be working with a resident to develop a safe bike commuting route to and from work or school. A trained bicycle leader interviews an interested resident to determine typical destinations through Bowling Green and then rides with this individual to practice the route once or twice depending on need. These types of ride are scheduled by individual request. Each rider must wear a properly-fitted helmet and ride a correctly-sized bicycle in safe, working mechanical order.

Schedule a Ride

If interested in scheduling this type of ride, please call 419-354-6222 or email Bowling Green Sustainability.